Air-gap faucet

ABSTRACT

An air-gap device integrated within a faucet base of a faucet fixture for use with a dishwashing device is disposable on a counter surface and includes: a base forming flow channels adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal at the surface; a fixed block wall extending from the base, the fixed block wall separating a first pair of flow channels from a second pair of flow channels and providing a fluid-tight seal for the first pair of the flow channels; and a removable block cover selectively attachable to the fixed block wall to fluidicly couple the second pair of flow channels, the block cover further forming an air-gap channel in fluidic communication with ambient. Modular design permits removal of the faucet and valve portion to access the air-gap device for maintenance, without the need to disconnect any fluid supply or waste lines.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/148,611, filed May 6, 2016, that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,499,961,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/833,783,filed Aug. 24, 2015, that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,359,749, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air-gap device and, morespecifically, an air-gap device that may be integrated into a faucet foruse with a dishwashing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, air-gap devices may be installed in plumbing waste linesas a safety device to prevent drain water from entering a clean watersystem. Typically, the air-gap device is installed upstream of a drainto prevent back up of drain water into a clean water system or conduit.As the name suggests, and as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, conventionalair-gap devices 10 include an open space at ambient conditions (the“air-gap” 15) between an outlet 11 of a first fluid conduit 12 and aninlet 13 of a second fluid conduit 14. As a result, if the unpressurizeddrain, or second fluid, line 14 were to become stopped or clogged (e.g.,by small pieces of food), the air-gap device 10 would leak incomingwater from the pressurized first fluid conduit 12 via the air-gap 15into a nearby sink 19 or other water reservoir.

Air-gaps have been incorporated or integrated into various faucets orspouts connected to under-sink appliances, e.g., instant hot waterheaters and reverse osmosis (RO) units. In these applications, theair-gap prevents waste fluid from being forced or siphoned back into thestorage tank or reservoir of the under sink appliance.

Many U.S. states and cities, such as California, require plumbing of newhomes to include an air-gap device 10 between a drain hose 17 of adishwashing device, such as a dishwasher 18, and its drain line 16. Thisrequires providing, in a kitchen counter top 22, a first opening 24 forreceiving a conventional hot and cold water faucet 20 and anotheropening 26 for receiving the air-gap device 10. Advantageously,installing an air-gap device 10 above the counter top 22 prevents aclogged drain or sink 19 backup directing contaminated water back intothe dishwasher 18. This arrangement has several disadvantages.

First, it requires providing in the counter top 22, e.g., by coring, bydrilling, and the like, an additional opening 26 at a precise locationabout the opening 28 for the sink 19. Second, typically, the air-gapdevice 10 cannot be disposed immediately adjacent to the sink 19, hence,the air-gap device 10 is located a short distance 29 from the sink 19,which means that leaking or weeping drain water from the air-gap device10 must travel over the counter top 22 for some distance 29 before itenters the sink 19, if it drains into the sink 19 at all. Finally, theair-gap device 10 can be noisy, unsightly, and a nuisance when trying toclean around the sink 19.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an air-gap device—especially anair-gap device for a dishwasher—that is structured and arranged to beinstalled within a faucet, to minimize these above and otherdisadvantages.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a modular air-gapdevice that is disposable on a surface within a faucet base housing of afaucet fixture. In some embodiments, the air-gap device includes a baseforming flow channels; a fixed block wall extending from the base, thefixed block wall separating a first pair of flow channels from a secondpair of flow channels and providing a fluid-tight seal for the firstpair of the flow channels; and a removable block cover selectivelyattachable to the fixed block wall to couple, e.g., fluidicly, thesecond pair of flow channels, the cover forming an air-gap channel influidic communication with ambient to avoid spatter. In someimplementations, the first pair of flow channels is structured andarranged to connect to a cold water supply line and a hot water supplyline and/or the second pair of flow channels is structured and arrangedto connect to a, e.g., pressurized, waste water line and a drain line.In some variations, the drain line has an inner diameter that is greaterthan an inner diameter of the waste water line.

In some implementations, the air-gap channel may be substantiallyU-shaped, such that the U-shaped air-gap channel includes a pair of legsof unequal length with a longer leg of the U-shaped air-gap channeldirecting fluid flow to a drain line and a shorter leg of the U-shapedair-gap channel receiving flow from a waste water line.

In some implementations, the removable block cover may form an aperture,which may be formed proximate a drain line, to provide fluidiccommunication between the second pair of flow channels and ambient. Insome variations, the air-gap device also may include conduits extendingfrom the base and in fluid communication with a corresponding flowchannel.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a faucet having anair-gap feature. In some embodiments, the faucet includes afluid-carrying spigot having an inlet and an outlet for communicating afluid therethrough; a valve in fluidic communication with the inlet ofthe spigot for selectively controlling a flow rate and/or a temperatureof the fluid; a faucet base housing having an overflow discharge outletformed therethrough; and an air-gap device disposable on a surface andwithin the faucet base housing. In some implementations, the air-gapdevice includes a base forming flow channels; a fixed block wallextending from the base, the fixed block wall separating a first pair offlow channels from a second pair of flow channels and providing afluid-tight seal for the first pair of the flow channels; a removableblock cover selectively attachable to the fixed block wall to fluidiclycouple the second pair of flow channels; and a crown portion extendingfrom the fixed block wall. In some implementations, the removable blockcover may form an aperture, which may be formed proximate a drain line.In some variations, the first pair of flow channels may be structuredand arranged to connect to a cold water supply line and a hot watersupply line and/or the second pair of flow channels may be structuredand arranged to connect to a waste water line and a drain line. Thedrain line may also have an inner diameter that is greater than an innerdiameter of the waste water line. In some variations, the faucet mayinclude conduits in fluid communication with a corresponding flowchannel and extending from the air-gap base.

In some variations, the block cover forms an air-gap channel in fluidiccommunication with ambient and the air-gap flow channel may be influidic communication with the overflow discharge outlet in the faucetbase.

In some implementations, the faucet base housing may be removablycoupled to the crown portion with a fastening device. Moreover, thefaucet may include a first seal and a second seal to direct overflowfrom the air-gap flow channel to the overflow discharge outlet in thefaucet base housing. For example, the first seal may be removablyattached to the air-gap base and/or the second seal may be removablyattached to the crown portion.

In some implementations, the air-gap channel may be substantiallyU-shaped such that the U-shaped air-gap channel may include a pair oflegs of unequal length with a longer leg of the U-shaped air-gap channeldirecting fluid flow to a drain line and a shorter leg of the U-shapedair-gap channel receiving flow from a waste water line.

In a third aspect, a method is described for accessing an obstructedfluid flow channel within a faucet having a faucet base housing and anair-gap device including a base forming a plurality of flow channels; afixed block wall extending from the base, the fixed block wallseparating a first pair of flow channels from a second pair of flowchannels and providing a fluid-tight seal for the first pair of the flowchannels; and a removable block cover selectively attachable to thefixed block wall to fluidicly couple the second pair of flow channels,the cover forming an air-gap channel in fluidic communication withambient. In some embodiments, the method includes removing the faucetbase housing and removing the block cover of the air-gap device. In somevariations, removing the block cover includes removing securing devicesthat secure the block cover to the fixed block wall.

In some implementations removing the faucet base housing and theremovable block cover may be both performed above a sink counter leveland/or removing the faucet base housing and the block cover may beperformed without detaching any fluid lines from the faucet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention. In the followingdescription, various embodiments of the present invention are describedwith reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a conventional arrangement of a sink faucet and a separateair-gap device for use with a dishwashing device in accordance with theprior art;

FIG. 1B shows an exemplary embodiment of an air-gap device for use witha dishwashing device in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2A shows a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a faucetintegrated with an air-gap device in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2B shows an exploded perspective view of an illustrative embodimentof a faucet integrated with an air-gap device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2C shows a rear perspective, partially disassembled view of anillustrative embodiment of a faucet integrated with an air-gap devicewith a faucet base housing and a removable block access cover removed,in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the air-gap device from FIG. 2C with the removable blockaccess cover removed from the air-gap device in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show cross-sectional views of an illustrative embodimentof an assembled faucet integrated with an air-gap device in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method of clearing an obstruction, clog,and/or blockage from the air-gap device in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a combined faucet and air-gap device for an appliance,e.g., dishwasher, reverse osmosis (RO) unit, instant hot water unit, andthe like, are described with reference to FIGS. 2A through 2C. For easeof description, the kitchen appliance will be a dishwasher 18 (FIG. 1A).However, those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate the widevariety of appliances that may be fluidly coupled to an air-gap device.

In some embodiments, the faucet/air-gap device 100 (hereinafter the“device”) may include an upper faucet assembly 30 and an air-gap portion60 to which a plurality of fluid conduit lines 16, 17, 21, and 23 isfluidicly coupled or connected. For example, in addition to having a hotwater conduit 21 and a cold water conduit 23 (hereinafter “lines”) forfluidicly coupling or connecting to a hot water source and a cold watersource, respectively, an inflow conduit 17 and an output or drainconduit 16 may be fluidicly coupled or connected to the device 100. Morespecifically, the inflow conduit 17, which may be fluidicly coupled to apressurized drain line of a dishwasher 18, and an output or drainconduit 16, which may be fluidicly coupled or connected to a gravitydrain, e.g., a sink drain or an in-sink garbage disposal, may befluidicly coupled or connected to the air-gap portion 60 of the device100, while the hot and cold water lines 21, 23 may be fluidicly coupledor connected to the upper faucet assembly 30, e.g., via the air-gapportion 60.

In some implementations, the upper faucet assembly 30 includes a tubularspigot 32, a base housing 34, and a fluid mixing handle 36 coupled tohot and cold water valves. Although FIGS. 2A through 2C show a ball-typemixing valve handle 36, those of ordinary skill in the art canappreciate that the invention is not to be construed as being limitedthereto. The upper faucet assembly 30 may include other handle, e.g.,translation-type mixing valve handles, and/or housing/body styles.

Faucets are well-known to those skilled in the art; hence, theconventional features of the upper faucet assembly 30 of the presentinvention will not be described in detail. Advantageously,faucet/air-gap system 100 enables one to install and plumb all of thesupply lines and drain conduits to the system 100 without the spout 32being attached to the base housing 34, which facilitates installation.Furthermore, the modular nature of the present invention, including, forexample, a base flange 42 and the air-gap portion 60, provides acustomization feature by enabling users to combine the base flange 42and the air-gap portion 60 with a multiplicity of spigots 32, faucetbase housings 34, and mixing valves with handles 36. In short, oneair-gap portion 60 size may fit multiple upper faucet assemblies 30 ofvarious styles and designs.

In some variations, the base housing 34 is generally a hollow shellhaving a top opening through which the spigot 32 may be fluidiclycoupled or connected to the hot and cold water lines 21, 23 viacorresponding ports; a hollow arm portion 31 through and into which avalve cartridge or valve 35, a compression nut 37, and a handle dome 38may be disposed for controlling flow and water temperature; and anoverflow discharge outlet 39, which will be described in greater detailbelow.

A proximal end of the valve 35 may be mechanically coupled to the fluidmixing handle 36, so that manipulation, e.g., by translation and/or byrotation, of the handle 36 makes adjustments to the distal end of thevalve 35, controlling the mixture and quantities of hot and cold waterdelivered to the spigot 32. In some variations, the compression nut 37,the dome 38, and the handle 36 may be removably attached, e.g., using afastening device (e.g., set screw, bolt, and the like) 33, to and withinthe plenum of the hollow arm portion 31, providing a fluid-tight seal.

FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B show an exemplary embodiment of an above-counterportion 50 and a below-counter portion 40 of the faucet/air-gap system100. In some embodiments, the below-counter portion 40 (FIG. 4B) mayinclude a hollow, substantially cylindrical portion 41 through which thehot 21 and cold water lines 23, as well as the input conduit 17 and thedrain conduit 16, are disposed. In some variations, the hot 21 and coldwater lines 23 are disposed adjacent to each other, retained in aboutone-half of the area of the substantially cylindrical portion 41, whilethe input conduit 17 and the drain conduit 16 are disposed adjacent toeach other, retained in the other one-half of the area of thesubstantially cylindrical portion 41. An outer diameter of thecylindrical portion 41 may be sized so that the cylindrical portion 41is able to fit cleanly or snugly in a conventionally sized faucetopening 24 in the counter 22 (FIG. 1) provided for the faucet/air-gapsystem 100. In some implementations, the cylindrical portion 41 is madeof copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, or other structurally soundmaterial. Advantageously, a distal end or upper portion of thecylindrical portion 41, which is closer to the counter 22 when properlyinstalled, may be counter-threaded to accept threadings provided on abase nut 43. The mating threadings are structured and arranged tosecurely and removably attach the faucet base flange 42 and thecylindrical portion 41 to the counter 22.

In some variations, with the below-counter portion 40 of thefaucet/air-gap system 100, a plurality of substantially circular or diskshaped sealing devices may be installed about the cylindrical portion 41between the bottom of the counter 22 and the base nut 43. For example,closest to the bottom of the counter 22, a first sealing device 45,e.g., a rubber, elastomer, and the like washer, may be removablydisposed on and about the outer, peripheral surface of the cylindricalportion 41, so as to abut the bottom of the counter 22. A second sealingdevice 44 e.g., a metallic (e.g., steel, aluminum, brass, and the like)washer, may be disposed between the first sealing device 45 and the basenut 43. In some variations, an outer diameter of the second sealingdevice 44 is larger than an outer diameter of the first sealing device45. During installation, as torque is applied to the base nut 43, thethreadings of the base nut 43 mate with the counter-threadingsintegrated into the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 41, causingthe base nut 43 to move, forcing each of the first sealing device 45 andthe second sealing device 44 together and against the bottom of thecounter 22, providing a fluid-tight seal about the opening 24 in thecounter 22.

In some implementations, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4A, the air-gapportion 60 may include a base portion 55, a wall portion 54, a removableblock cover 52, and a crown portion 56. The base portion 55 may bedisk-shaped and manufactured from a metal, alloy, hard plastic material,and the like. The base portion 55 may be dimensioned to provide a tight,interference fit with the faucet base flange 42 to create a fluid-tightseal. The faucet base flange 42 may be dimensioned to provide a tight,sliding fit with the faucet housing 34 to create a fluid-tight sealbetween the faucet base flange 42 and the faucet housing 34. In someembodiments, the base portion 55 is formed to include one or moreopenings, e.g., four openings, to accommodate the plurality of fluidlines and conduits 16, 17, 21, 23. In some implementations, the hotwater 21 and cold water lines 23, as well as the inflow line 17 from thedishwasher 18 (FIG. 1), pass through, so as to extend beyond an upperface of the base portion 55, while the outflow or drain line 16 may beformed flush with an upper face of the base portion 55.

In some embodiments, the wall portion 54 of the air-gap portion 60 maybe integral with or fixedly attached, e.g., bonded, welded, molded, andthe like, and substantially perpendicular to the upper face of the baseportion 55. The wall portion 54, which also may be manufactured from ametal, alloy, hard plastic material, and the like, may be structured andarranged to include a substantially planar surface 51 having a pluralityof openings 61, for releasably securing the block cover 52 to the planarsurface 51 to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal against theplanar surface 51, and an outer, e.g., arcuate, surface 53 that may beconfigured to fit into the plenum of the faucet housing 34. The wallportion 54 may form openings for the hot water 21 and cold water lines23. Advantageously, the wall portion 54 may be structured and arrangedto isolate the hot water 21 and cold water lines 23 from the inflow 17and outflow drain lines 16.

In some embodiments, the crown portion 56 may be integral with orfixedly attached, e.g., bonded, welded, molded, and the like, in acantilever and substantially perpendicular to the wall portion 54. Insome implementations, the crown portion 56 may be disk-shaped andmanufactured from a metal, alloy, hard plastic material, and the like.The crown portion 56 may form openings for the hot water 21 and coldwater lines 23. Advantageously, the crown portion 56 may be structuredand arranged to isolate the hot water 21 and cold water lines 23 fromthe inflow 17 and outflow drain lines 16. The peripheral edge of thedisk-shaped crown portion 56 may include a threaded opening 67, whichmay be configured to receive a fastening device 46 (FIGS. 2B and 2C) forreleasably attaching the faucet housing 34 to the air-gap portion 60,and an annular groove 65 that is configured to retain a sealing device,e.g., an O-ring. Advantageously, when the faucet housing 34 is properlymounted over the air-gap portion 60, the sealing device in the annulargroove 65 may provide a fluid-tight seal above the air-gap channel 58 toprevent pressurized drain water from going anywhere except through theoverflow discharge outlet 39, in the event of a clogged drain.Furthermore, when properly mounted, an opening in the faucet housing 34may be configured to register with the threaded opening 67 so that thefastening device 46, e.g., a screw, bolt, and the like, may be insertedthrough the opening 67 to releasably attach the housing 34 to theair-gap portion 60. Thus, a single fastening device 46 permits removalof the faucet housing 34, for maintenance or repair.

In some implementations, the hot water 21 and cold water lines 23 passthrough, so as to extend beyond an upper face of the crown portion 56.The crown portion 56 may also include a key area 66 on an upper face atwhich a distal end of a faucet valve 35 may control the mixingtemperature and flow volume of the hot and cold water flowing throughthe respective hot water 21 and cold water lines 23.

The removable block cover 52 may be provided with the air-gap portion 60to facilitate clean-out of a blocked or clogged drain. Advantageously,successive access to the air-gap portion 60, to the block cover 52, andto the air-gap channel 58 and the blockage or clog is facilitated byenabling one to access each above-the-counter, rather thanbelow-the-counter where the confined space beneath the sink is a jumbleof pipes and conduits and other obstructions. In some embodiments, theremovable block cover 52 may be manufactured from a metal, alloy, hardplastic material, and the like, and may be structured and arranged toinclude a front surface 68 that may include one or more channels that,when the block cover 52 is properly attached to the wall portion 54, mayprovide an outlet for pressurized waste water. A plurality of openings69, e.g., two openings, may be formed in the block cover 52 to be inregistration with the threaded openings 61 in the wall portion 54 whenthe block cover 52 is properly attached to the wall portion 54.Fastening devices 63, e.g., set screws, bolts, and the like, may be usedto releasably secure the front surface 68 of the block cover 52 to thewall portion 54.

Advantageously, an air-gap channel 58 is formed into the block cover 52at the front surface 68. In some applications, the air-gap channel 58may be formed as a U-shaped channel that includes a shorter leg that isin fluid communication with the outlet 57 of the dishwasher inflowconduit 17 and a longer leg that is in fluid communication with theinlet 59 of the outflow drain conduit 16. In some variations, it may bedesirable to have an outflow drain conduit 16 with a larger diameterthan the inflow conduit 17. To accommodate this, the diameter of theU-shaped channel 58 may be sized to form a diameter that corresponds tothe outer diameter of the outlet 57 of the inflow conduit 17; however,the longer leg may be belled out immediately adjacent to the inlet 59 ofthe outflow drain conduit 16.

The block cover 52 may be between about 1.5 and about 2 inches inheight; between about 1.25 and about 1.75 inches in width; and about 0.5to about 0.75 inches thick. In one implementation, the dimensions of theblock cover may be 1.5 inches by 1.46 inches by 0.68 inches.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the legs of theU-shaped, air-gap channel 58 may actually be of the same length, suchthat one leg is not comparatively “longer” or “shorter” than the other.Recalling, however, that the inflow conduit 17 extends through the baseportion 55, so that its outlet 57 is a short distance above the upperface of the base portion 55, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the blockcover 52 is properly attached to the wall portion 54, the distance fromthe outlet 57 of the inflow conduit 17 to the crown of the U-shapedchannel is shorter than the distance from the inlet 59 of the outflowdrain conduit 16. In such an instance, the former is the “shorter” legwhile the latter is the “longer” leg.

In the event that a there is a clog or blockage in the outflow drainconduit 16 and/or the air-gap channel 58, a “fail safe” outlet 64, whichis in fluidic communication with the air-gap channel 58, as well as withthe overflow discharge outlet 39, may be formed in the block cover 52 toprovide an ambient release outlet for fluid entering the air-gap channel58 from the inflow conduit 17 that would otherwise drain into theoutflow drain conduit 16. In some embodiments, the “fail safe” outlet 64may be located in the block cover 52 so that the outlet 64 is betweenabout 1.5 and about 2 inches above the counter top 22. In oneimplementation, the “fail safe” outlet 64 may be located in the blockcover 52 so that the outlet 64 is about 1.85 inches above the countertop 22. In some variations, the “fail safe” outlet 64 may be located inthe block cover 52 as close as possible to the air-gap base so that theoutlet 64 is self-cleaning. An annular space 62 may be formed betweenthe faucet housing 34 and the air-gap portion 60, when the faucethousing 34 is properly disposed on the faucet base flange 42 about theair-gap portion 60. The faucet base flange 42 may include an O-ringdisposed in a groove formed in an underside thereof, to seal against thecounter 22 and prevent liquid on the counter 22 from leaking into thesink base cabinet, especially in the event of a clog and discharge ofwaste water through the overflow discharge outlet 39. Advantageously,when the faucet housing 34 is properly disposed on the faucet baseflange 42, the combination provides a fluid-tight seal at the faucetbase flange 42, for example, due to a stepped flange sealed with anO-ring, thereby causing any discharging fluid to travel from the “failsafe” outlet 64 to the overflow discharge outlet 39 via the annularspace 62. Consequently, fluid, e.g., dishwasher waste water, from theinflow conduit 17 that would otherwise drain into the outflow drainconduit 16 may be discharged into the sink 19 via the overflow dischargeoutlet 39 when the line 16 is clogged or otherwise blocked.

Advantageously, in some variations, the sealing arrangement may provideimproved backflow prevention and/or prevent siphoning into a clean watersource via the air-gap portion 60 by raising the effective flood levelto the ambient overflow discharge outlet 39, rather than at the level ofthe “fail safe” outlet 64.

Having described the air-gap portion 60 integrated into the faucet 100,a method of accessing an obstructed fluid flow channel within the faucet100 to clear a clog or blockage in the outflow drain conduit 16 and/orthe air-gap channel 58 will now be described. Advantageously, removingthe faucet base housing 34 and the removable block cover 52 of thefaucet/air-gap system 100 may be performed above sink counter 22 leveland, moreover, removing the faucet base housing 34 and the removableblock cover 52 may be performed without detaching one or more of thelines or conduits 16, 17, 21, 23 fluidicly coupled to the air-gapportion 60.

Referring to FIG. 5, in a first step, the homeowner, handyman, and/orplumber may remove the faucet base portion 34 (STEP 1), e.g., byremoving a set screw, a bolt, and the like, that connects the faucetbase portion 34 to the air-gap portion 60, exposing the latter.Fastening devices 67 may then be removed (STEP 2) to separate the blockcover 52 from the air-gap portion 60, exposing the air-gap channel 58,inflow conduit 17, outflow drain conduit 16. With the air-gap channel58, inflow conduit 17, outflow drain conduit 16, the cause of the clogor blockage may be apparent, in which case the clog or blockage may beremoved manually (STEP 3). If the cause of the clog or blockage is notapparent, a snake or other plumbing tool may be inserted into the inflowconduit 17 and/or the outflow drain conduit 16.

O-ring seals on the hot and cold water conduits 21, 23 extending fromthe crown portion 56 align with corresponding inlets on the faucet baseportion 34, affording reliable, fluid-tight connections without the needto separately connect or disconnect the fluid lines. Accordingly, thefour supply and drain lines need only be connected to the air-gapportion 60 during initial installation. All subsequent maintenance orreplacement of the upper faucet assembly 30 may be completed quickly andeasily, without the need to disconnect any supply or drain lines

It should be understood that alternative embodiments and/or materialsused in the construction of embodiments, or alternative embodiments, areapplicable to all other embodiments described herein.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoingembodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respectsillustrative rather than limiting the invention described herein. Scopeof the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather thanby the foregoing description, and all changes that come within themeaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to beembraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of installing and servicing a faucet,the method comprising: mounting an air-gap portion of the faucet above acounter using an attaching device disposed beneath the counter;fluidicly coupling, beneath the counter, a hot water line and a coldwater line to the air gap portion; fluidicly coupling, beneath thecounter, an inflow conduit line and an outflow conduit line to the airgap portion; mounting an upper faucet assembly to the air-gap portion;and pressurizing the hot and cold water lines.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the attachment device comprises a nut and wherein mounting theair-gap portion comprises threading the nut onto a hollow, substantiallycylindrical portion of the faucet extending below the counter.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein at least one of the hot and cold water lines,the inflow conduit line, and the outflow conduit line passes through thehollow, substantially cylindrical portion.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein fluidicly coupling the hot water line and the cold water line tothe faucet comprises fluidicly coupling the hot water line and the coldwater line to the air-gap portion.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinfluidicly coupling the inflow conduit line and the outflow conduit lineto the faucet comprises fluidicly coupling the inflow conduit line andthe outflow conduit line to the air-gap portion.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the hot and cold water lines are fluidicly coupled to theair-gap portion before mounting the upper faucet assembly to the air-gapportion.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflow and outflowconduit lines are fluidicly coupled to the air-gap portion beforemounting the upper faucet assembly to the air-gap portion.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein coupling the inflow conduit line to the faucetcomprises coupling a pressurized drain line from an appliance to theair-gap portion.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the outflowconduit line to the faucet comprises coupling an unpressurized drainline to the air-gap portion.
 10. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising servicing the air-gap portion by: removing, above thecounter, the upper faucet assembly from the air-gap portion; andremoving, above the counter, a block cover from the air-gap portion. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein removing the upper faucet assemblycomprises removing a single fastening device.
 12. The method of claim10, wherein removing the upper faucet assembly can be performed withoutdetaching, beneath the counter, any of the hot and cold water lines, theinflow conduit line, and the outflow conduit line from the faucet. 13.The method of claim 10, wherein removing the block cover can beperformed without detaching, beneath the counter, any of the hot andcold water lines, the inflow conduit line, and the outflow conduit linefrom the faucet.
 14. A method of servicing an air-gap portion of afaucet mounted above a counter by an attaching device disposed beneaththe counter, the faucet comprising the air-gap portion and an upperfaucet assembly mounted to the air-gap portion, the faucet adapted tofluidicly couple, beneath the counter, to hot and cold water lines, aninflow conduit line, and an outflow conduit line, the method comprising:removing, above the counter, a single fastening device to remove theupper faucet assembly; and removing, above the counter, a block cover ofthe air-gap portion.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein removing theupper faucet assembly can be performed without detaching, beneath thecounter, any of the hot and cold water lines, the inflow conduit line,and the outflow conduit line from the faucet.
 16. The method of claim14, wherein removing the block cover can be performed without detaching,beneath the counter, any of the hot and cold water lines, the inflowconduit line, and the outflow conduit line from the faucet.
 17. A faucetcomprising: an air-gap portion adapted to be mounted above a counterusing an attaching device disposed beneath the counter; fluidiccouplings disposed beneath the counter for coupling a hot water line anda cold water line to the air gap portion; fluidic couplings disposedbeneath the counter for coupling an inflow conduit line and an outflowconduit line to the air gap portion; and a separate upper faucetassembly adapted to be mounted to the air-gap portion above the counter.18. The faucet of claim 17, wherein the air-gap portion comprises acrown portion comprising an annular groove for a sealing device.
 19. Thefaucet of claim 17, wherein the air-gap portion comprises a crownportion comprising a threaded opening for releasably attaching the upperfaucet assembly to the air-gap portion.
 20. The faucet of claim 19,wherein the separate upper faucet assembly comprises an openingregisterable with the threaded opening, such that a single fasteningdevice disposed through the opening and the threaded opening enableremoval of the upper faucet assembly from the air-gap portion.
 21. Thefaucet of claim 17, wherein the upper faucet assembly comprises adischarge outlet to ambient.
 22. The faucet of claim 21, wherein theair-gap portion comprises an outlet in fluid communication with ambientvia the discharge outlet.
 23. The faucet of claim 17, wherein the upperfaucet assembly comprises a spigot releasably attachable to a basehousing and including a fluid mixing handle coupled to a valve.
 24. Thefaucet of claim 17, wherein the air-gap portion further comprises a baseflange adapted to abut the counter.
 25. The faucet of claim 24, whereinthe base flange comprises, on an underside thereof, an annular groovefor a sealing device.
 26. A method of installing and servicing a faucet,the method comprising: mounting an air-gap portion of the faucet above acounter using an attaching device disposed beneath the counter;fluidicly coupling, beneath the counter, a hot water line and a coldwater line to the faucet; fluidicly coupling, beneath the counter, aninflow conduit line and an outflow conduit line to the faucet; mountingan upper faucet assembly to the air-gap portion; pressurizing the hotand cold water lines; and servicing the air-gap portion by: removing,above the counter, the upper faucet assembly from the air-gap portion;and removing, above the counter, a block cover from the air-gap portion.27. The method of claim 26, wherein removing the upper faucet assemblycomprises removing a single fastening device.
 28. The method of claim26, wherein removing the upper faucet assembly can be performed withoutdetaching, beneath the counter, any of the hot and cold water lines, theinflow conduit line, and the outflow conduit line from the faucet. 29.The method of claim 26, wherein removing the block cover can beperformed without detaching, beneath the counter, any of the hot andcold water lines, the inflow conduit line, and the outflow conduit linefrom the faucet.